Sophie Ruiz-Leimer, FEI Commercial Coordinator and John Young, President of the International Ground Jury at the top table with (below) Chefs d'Equipe Rob Hoekstra (GBR), Rob Ehrens (NED), George Morris (USA) and Henk Nooren (FRA) at the draw for the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 at Hickstead (GBR) (Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton). Hickstead, Great Britain - The defending champions from France will lead the way as the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 kicks off...

Started off the day with a nice bath for Smartie, which she greatly appreciated. Her ankle looked really good this morning with only minor swelling, but just for a precaution, we wrapped her back up in ice until we were called for the jog. My team went first, and of the three of us, Smartie was second. We entered the ring for the jog and began walking as directed. Looking back, it was very obvious that I was extremely nervous. The entire time I was talking to my dad about how worried I was...

Lexington, KY - Temperatures soared, but dressage competitors managed to keep their cool as the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North kicked off today at the Kentucky Horse Park. This is the third year the championships have been held at the Kentucky venue, which was the site of the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games last fall. Region 5 Took the Gold medal in the Young Rider competition. Photo by SusanJStickle.com. The day began...

Ashlee Bond and Chivas Z won the 1.40m Open Jumper class at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show (Photo: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com). Lexington, KY - It was beautiful and sunny for the opening day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows at the Kentucky Horse Park. Today, riders gathered at the Walnut Ring to compete for top prizes in the Open Jumper classes. Ashlee Bond and Chivas Z were the big winners, claiming the victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper class with the fastest clear effort. In the 1.35m...

Margie Engle and Ashland Farms' Lord Spezi on course in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — With competition taking place in 10 different show rings and more than 1,600 horses on the premises, the opening week of the HITS-on-the-Hudson summer series is going like gangbusters, proving that Saugerties, New York is the place to be this summer. Olympian Margie Engle...

Santa Rosa, CA - It was exciting for all of us who worked diligently and long hours in planning for the 2010 West Coast Connemara Show (WCCS) to be recognized last January as "the USEF Breed Affiliate Favorite USEF Breed Competition Winner, 2010." What encouragement it gave Lee Webster to get an early start in organizing the annual West Coast Connemara Show for 2011! All was proceeding according to plan for an early June show at Twin Rivers Ranch, Paso Robles, CA, until several days prior to...

Traverse City, MI - Overcast skies couldn’t dull the excitement at Horse Shows by the Bay this afternoon, as the $30,000 Open Jumper Grand Prix of Traverse City ignited the Grand Prix ring. Brian Shook and Courage 68 took home the top prize in a suspenseful jump-off that kept fans on the edge of their seats, as Shook, who rode last in the second round, was the only competitor to clear the course twice. This event was the first of four $30,000 Open Jumper Grands Prix that will take place...

Falsterbo, Sweden - The American team has the unenviable task of being first into the ring when the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 resumes at Falsterbo, Sweden, tomorrow afternoon. The draw took place this evening, and the order of go for the competition which begins at 14.30 local time is as follows: 1. USA; 2. Belgium; 3. The Netherlands; 4. Germany; 5. Great Britain; 6. Sweden; 7. Ireland; 8. Denmark; 9. France. The draw for the fourth leg of the FEI Nations Cup™ 2011 series took place at...

Rough Beginnings So, my road to the NAJYRC is off to quite the bumpy start! First, let me introduce myself before I tell you about all of my drama. My name is Catherine Chamberlain; I am a sixteen year old living and training in Arizona. I have been riding dressage for the last seven years and it’s my goal to become a trainer and represent the U.S. at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games someday. My partner and friend for the past four years is Verdicci, a.k.a. Chance, a nine year old...

Lexington, KY - The USEF has updated the Developing Rider List based on spring performances so far in 2011. Riders will be invited to participate in training sessions with USEF Technical Advisor Capt. Mark Phillips at competitions throughout the summer and fall seasons in preparation for the 2011 Pan American Games and 2012 Olympic Games. An additional rider was added to the Developing Rider List on June 30, 2011. Name/Age/Hometown The following riders have been named to the Developing Rider...